The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-02-17
Biographical sketch Or Captain
BIKE.

oeatn OF his father, and when quite young,
he Lett his home aud went out into the
world TO fight the battle Of life. Making
his way to Albany, New York, he there
learned the printers trade, and then went
TO New York city. 1t was while work
ing in Hoes printing Office in that city
that he learned through an advertisement
that printers were needed in Apalachicola,
then . new and growing seaport town in
the distant territory of Florida, and en-
barking in . sailing vessel in due time
reached his destination. It was in 1899
that the Canadian youth of eight cen
years landed on the shores of then al
most wilderness territory, that he was to
live to see an important commonwealth,
himself one of its most useful and distin-
guished citizens. He was accompanied
from New York by J. L. Wyman, anoth-
or young printer, and they worked to-
gether in Apalachicola until ls4l, when
they came to Tallahassee. Wyman return
ed to Apalachicola, Dyke remaining as an
employee in the Tallahassee FLoR1DIAN
Office and so continuing until 1s47 when
he bought of Mr.. William Sibley, the pro-
prietor, an interest in that paper. In 1s49
Sibley & Dyke sold the Office to Messrs.
A. E. Maxwell and r. B. Hilton. In 1850
Mr.. Dyke bought out Mr. Maxwell and the
firm became Hilton & Dyke, and in 1851
Mr.. Hilton sold out to Mr.. Dyke, who
continued the publication of the FLoR1-
DIAN as sole proprietor until 1855, when
he sold to DR.. J. 8. Jones, but soon re.
purchased half interest and in 1859
bought out DIR. J. and again became
sole proprietor. The same year he
sold half interest to Mr.. J. B. Carlisle,
who died on the 9Th of November, 1868.
Mr.. Carlisle's interest was sold to Mr.. G.
K. Sparhxwk and the firm of Dyke &
Carlisle was succeeded by Dyke 6 Spar
hawk, which continued until 1869. Shortly
after the close of the war, in the sprng of
1855, the FLoRIDIAN Office was seized by
the United States authorities and put in
possession of Oscar Hart, who edited the
paper until shortly afterwards Messrs.
Dyke & Sparhawk recovered it through
the influence of Judge Marvin, Provis-
ional Governor. In November, 1878,
Colonel F. B. Papy became partner in
the publication of the FLoR1D1AN and re-
tired in December, 1879, and thereafter
Captain Dyke remained sole proprietor
until he sold to the present owners in
July, 1883, to give his attention in future
to the improvement of the beautiful and
valuable country home where he died.
So the history of the FLoR1D1AN for more
than third of a century outlines the
business record of Captain Dyke, pune
tuated with the frequent changes which
indicate the struggles and vicissitudes of
career through which the strong man
fought his way to win moderate finan-
cial success when near the close
of life. The loss of the files of the
FLoRID1AN by fire, and otherwise, prior
to 1878, prevents more detailed chronicle
than we give. We should mention that
when the Office was burned citizens of
Tallahassee contributed large sum of
money to enable Captain Dyke to pur-
chase new material for the continued pub
LEGATION of the paper which he had made
50 valuable to the community.
However harassed by business
troubles, and by extraordinary domestic
Affections during his prime of life, Capt.
Dyke was always public spirited, always
alert to the interests of his fellow citizens,
and An active member of benefcent asso-
Citations. Becoming a member of the
Methodist Church in 1912 his religious
convictions were profound and practical,
and finally obtaining license as local
preacher, in the years before the war he
frequently filed the pulpit and most &C.
ceptably, delivering very eloquent and
earnest sermons, as many living persons
do testify. He had attained political
prominence before the war, and was q
delegate to the Democratic National Con-
vention at Charleston in 1860 to nominate
candidates for President and Vice-P resi.
| dent. Since the war he has been dele
gate to all the democratic national and
State conventions, but though instrument
al in elevating others to Office, and bav-
ing the highest confidence of the people as
to his judgment in selecting proper men
for Office, he never sought Office himself
and declined high official positions in the
State government more than once ten
dered to him. In obedience, however, to
IN earnest popular movement he con-
sented to serve a. Mayor of Tallahassee,
and was the first democrat elected to the
Office after the war. Again, when the
carpetbsg administration of Florida at
tempted to sell West Florida to Alabama,
TO which he was opposed) his appoint
ment was procured as one of the three
Commissioners sent to Montgomery to ne
gotiste the sale. His Republican col
Leagues were in favor of it, but their
scheme was finally bafied, the action of
the Legislature in rejecting Alabama's
propositions % presented being largely
6ua IN Cant nvkaSa aafnfo uape~o